Former ICE Lawyer Gets Prison in Immigration Case

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former Immigration and Customs Enforcement attorney has been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for taking bribes and filing false papers for immigrants seeking to remain legally in the United States.

Constantine Peter Kallas was sentenced Monday during a closed hearing in Los Angeles federal court. He was also ordered to pay $296,000 in restitution.

The 40-year-old former assistant chief counsel for ICE was convicted last year of 36 counts ranging from conspiracy to bribery to fraud.

Prosecutors say Kallas and his wife took bribes from immigrants and filed false employment paperwork to help them get green cards. Kallas was arrested in 2008.

Kallas' wife, Maria, pleaded guilty in 2009 to conspiracy, bribery and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Her sentencing is set for May 2.